Aesthetic medicine · Cape Town
Lip Filler
Balance and definition, never overfilled
From R4 00090 min
What it is
The lip filler used here is a hyaluronic acid gel formulated specifically for lips. Its flexible gel is designed to move with your face, so lips look soft and behave naturally when you talk and smile rather than sitting stiffly.
Treatment is about proportion first and volume second. Dr Allison assesses the balance between your upper and lower lip, the shape of your cupid's bow, how much tooth shows when you smile, and how your lips sit against the rest of your face — then adds only what that assessment calls for.
Who it’s for
Patients who want subtle definition, better hydration or a correction of asymmetry, rather than a dramatic increase in size.
It also suits anyone whose lips have thinned with age, who has lost definition along the lip border, or whose upper and lower lip proportions have never quite balanced.
The benefits
- Restores definition along the lip border and cupid's bow
- Improves hydration and surface texture
- Corrects asymmetry between the upper and lower lip
- Softens fine lines around the mouth
- Flexible gel that moves naturally when you speak and smile
- Dissolvable if you ever change your mind
Before & after
One millilitre, placed for shape rather than size — the border defined and the upper lip brought into balance with the lower. The same patient, photographed from three angles.
Individual results vary. Every photograph is shared with the patient’s written permission.
Before
After
- Three-quarter
- Front
- Smiling
What to expect
The process
Every appointment follows the same considered sequence, so you always know what is coming next.
Step 1
Consultation and lip assessment
We look at your lips at rest and in motion, discuss the shape you're hoping for, and are honest about what will suit your face. Dr Allison will tell you if what you're asking for isn't the right call — and what she'd recommend instead.
Step 2
Numbing and preparation
The lips are cleansed and a strong topical anaesthetic is applied for around twenty minutes. The filler itself also contains lidocaine, so comfort improves further as treatment progresses. For patients who want to be completely pain-free — or where topical numbing isn't enough on its own — a nerve block can be done.
Step 3
Treatment
Filler is placed in small, controlled amounts using a fine needle or a blunt cannula, depending on the area. Dr Allison works in stages, sitting you up regularly so you can see the shape developing and give input as she goes.
Step 4
Aftercare
Expect swelling for two to three days, and some minor bruising. You'll go home with an ice pack, and instructions to avoid heat, exercise and alcohol for twenty-four hours and to keep the lips well hydrated.
Step 5
Two-week review
Lips are reviewed once all swelling has resolved. Small refinements can be made at this appointment, which is far safer and more accurate than trying to perfect the shape on a swollen lip.
Downtime & aftercare
What to plan for
- Downtime
- 2–3 days of swelling
- Results visible in
- Immediate, settled at 2 weeks
- Results last
- 6–12 months
You are welcome to contact the practice at any point if something doesn’t look or feel as expected. Individual responses vary — what to expect for your skin is discussed at your consultation.
Pricing
| Treatment | Duration | From |
|---|---|---|
| 1 ml — full treatment (includes consultation) | 90 min | R4 000 |
| Dissolving (hyaluronidase) | 60 min | R1 750 per session |
Prices are a guide and start from the amounts shown. Final pricing depends on the product and quantity your treatment plan calls for, and is confirmed at your consultation before anything goes ahead.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
The questions patients ask most often about lip filler. If yours isn't here, ask us on WhatsApp — we're happy to answer before you book.
A hyaluronic acid filler made specifically for lips. Its gel is deliberately flexible so lips stay soft and mobile. Hyaluronic acid is also a substance your body already produces, and it can be dissolved if needed.
Hyaluronic acid binds water, so the gel both adds structure and draws hydration into the tissue. Placed precisely, it can define a border, support a flat cupid's bow, or add volume exactly where it is lacking.
Lips are sensitive, so we don't skip comfort. Strong topical numbing is applied first and the filler contains local anaesthetic. Most patients describe pressure rather than pain, and rate it as far more manageable than expected.
Not if the amount is right. Half a millilitre placed well is usually enough for definition and hydration without an obvious change in size. Dr Allison would rather do a little and see you again than overfill on the first visit.
You'll see a change immediately, but lips swell. Expect two to three days of noticeable swelling, then a further week or two of settling. The true result is what you see at your two-week review.
Usually six to twelve months. Lips are a mobile, well-supplied area so filler breaks down faster here than elsewhere on the face. Most patients top up around the nine-month mark.
Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks the product down within a day or two. It is rarely needed, but it is the reason we work exclusively with reversible fillers in this area.
Plan for two to three days of swelling and the possibility of bruising. Avoid booking treatment in the week before a wedding, a shoot or an important event — two weeks' clearance is the safer choice.
Explore further
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Ready when you are
Considering lip filler?
Book a consultation and we'll talk it through properly — what it can realistically achieve for you, what it will cost, and whether it's the right treatment at all.